APC primaries protests erupted across several states as consensus candidates emerged amid allegations of irregularities and disputed results

Several states across Nigeria witnessed a dramatic mix of consensus victories, disputed outcomes and growing protests on Wednesday as the All Progressives Congress conducted primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Also read: APC Delays Ogun Primary Winners Amid Fresh Appeals

The exercises, held for National Assembly and state assembly positions, produced returning lawmakers, new entrants and high-profile political casualties, while allegations of manipulation, violence and irregularities trailed the process in parts of the country.

In Kaduna State, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Dahiru Liman, Deputy Speaker Magaji Danjuma and Majority Leader Munira Tanimu secured APC tickets through consensus affirmation exercises conducted in their respective constituencies.

Returning Officer Ezekiel Samuel Gode declared Liman winner of the Makera State Constituency exercise after affirmation results were collated from all five voting areas.

Similarly, Danjuma emerged unopposed for Kagarko State Constituency, while Tanimu secured the APC ticket for Lere East after affirmation exercises across six wards.

Several aspirants in the state also stepped down and endorsed consensus candidates following interventions by Governor Uba Sani.

Speaking on behalf of the withdrawing aspirants, Abdulrazaq Shuibu Labbo said the decision was aimed at strengthening party unity ahead of the general election.

In Kogi State, Emmanuel Obaro clinched the APC ticket for Yagba East State Constituency after winning all 10 wards in the direct primary election.

Lagos recorded one of the most explosive contests of the day after actor-turned-lawmaker Desmond Elliot lost his bid to return to the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Barakat Bakare defeated Elliot in Surulere Constituency I after polling 11,355 votes against Elliot’s 270 votes in a contest overshadowed by allegations of intimidation and procedural breaches.

Elliot rejected the exercise, alleging that many of his supporters were denied access to the venue and that violence erupted during the process.

“Thank God nobody was killed, but a lot of people were injured,” Elliot said.

Elsewhere in Lagos, Ganiyu Egunjobi and Azeez Oladapo Yusuf emerged as APC candidates for Agege Constituencies I and II respectively, while Mudasiru Obasa secured the party’s ticket for Agege Federal Constituency.

In Delta State, Speaker of the House of Assembly Emomotimi Guwor emerged as the APC candidate for Warri South-West Constituency alongside several incumbent lawmakers who retained their tickets.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun described the primaries in the state as peaceful and transparent after participating in the exercise in Ikenne Local Government Area.

Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Daisi Elemide, secured 2,115 votes during the consensus process in Odeda.

However, tensions intensified in Edo State where several federal lawmakers submitted petitions challenging the conduct of the primaries.

House of Representatives members Esosa Iyawe and Marcus Onobum, alongside Senator Neda Imasuen, accused party officials of result manipulation and suppression of lawful votes.

Iyawe alleged that the declared results did not reflect actual votes cast during the exercise and called for a review of ward and constituency results.

In Cross River State, senatorial aspirants Eteng Jones Williams and Mary Ekpere rejected results circulating online, insisting that no election took place across the 66 wards in the district.

Williams said no electoral officials arrived at the venues despite supporters waiting until late evening.

In Ondo State, APC aspirant Alex Ajipe described the exercise in four local government areas as “allocation of votes in broad daylight,” alleging that officials disappeared after collecting handwritten results on plain paper.

Nasarawa State also witnessed protests by party members under the platform of Concerned APC Members, who accused election officials of poor organisation and failure to distribute materials in several wards.

Despite the controversy, Governor Abdullahi Sule emerged winner of the Nasarawa North Senatorial District primary after polling 47,393 votes against former Deputy Governor Silas Agara.

Former National Primary Health Care Development Agency Executive Director Faisal Shuaib also secured victory in Nasarawa West through affirmation.

In Kwara State, the APC reversed an earlier screening exercise that had disqualified more than half of the aspirants contesting for House of Assembly tickets.

A revised list cleared all 159 aspirants, including Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, whose name was absent from the initial document.

The dramatic reversal followed protests and anxiety within party ranks over the earlier mass disqualifications.

Jigawa State adopted a consensus arrangement for all 30 state assembly constituencies, with 18 incumbents retaining their tickets and 11 new candidates emerging.

Speaker Haruna Dangyatim described the process as a reflection of party unity in the state.

Also read: APC Primaries Delayed Amid Tension in Adamawa

Across several states, the APC primaries protests underscored growing internal tensions within the ruling party as aspirants and stakeholders questioned the transparency and credibility of the exercises ahead of the 2027 elections.